2013 Dodge Viper

The 2013 Dodge Viper is about to become a little more civilized, though not at the expense of tire-smoking performance and testosterone-fueled design. If anything, the next-gen Viper is going to pack an even bigger punch than the models that have come before. Our spy photographers recently captured Viper prototypes with what appears to be a production-ready front fascia, grille and hood.

From these images, the awkward jump from the 2011 to 2013 model year does not appear all that dramatic. That muscular, swept-back roadster shape remains true to the original 1992 RT/10. A toned-down grille and larger, more elongated headlights are visible beneath the camouflage. Like the previous Viper, there looks to be a large center air intake on the hood. But in these images there seems to be two smaller intakes on either side.

Is Dodge pulling a fast one, or is the next Viper going to wear a much wilder hood than before?

Raucous Refinement

Only a few weeks ago, we had the chance to peek inside the interior of the next Viper. What we saw shed light on how Dodge plans to evolve a sports car famous for making few, if any, compromises. Located on the steering wheel were, at first glance, what looked like active cruise control buttons. Our guess is that these will control a programmable traction control system, with modes for sport, track and low grip conditions. Being a Dodge Viper, we’re certain there will also be an “off” mode.

A Bilstein Adaptive Damping Suspension button on the center tunnel will bring the Viper’s suspension in line with the rest of the SRT range. The electronically controlled dual-mode dampers should go a long way toward providing a more comfortable and controlled ride in all driving conditions. Of course, we’d love to see under the hood of the 2013 Viper. Chances are good you’ll find an evolution of the existing 8.4-liter V-10 engine, coupled with a 6-speed manual transmission.

During its final year of production, the 2011 Viper SRT10 was pumping out 600 bhp at the crankshaft. Expect a jump of 50 to 100 bhp, thanks to new engine mapping and some fine-tuning – Ferrari is supposed to have had a hand in the development. Look for the Viper to debut early next year, during the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Chrysler and Dodge were both very quiet when it came to excitement at last year’s show. A mega-horsepower roadster might not be the volume seller the automaker needs, but it could provide an overdue jolt of fun.